Tag: Writing

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+ Author Life, Editing, Productivity, Work With us

How to Build a Long-Term Working Relationship With an Editor

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If you’re an indie author, then you know it’s your responsibility to build a team to help you get your books out into the world. Because we have creative control and control over our production processes, we have the luxury of choosing our editors. Chances are, you’re probably interested in the idea of building a relationship with your editor that goes beyond a basic … Read More How to Build a Long-Term Working Relationship With an Editor

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+ Author Toolbox, Editing, Marketing, Pep Talk, Productivity, Sales, Self

Having a Hard Time Organizing Your Writing Time?

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Dreaming is an important part of your writing (both creatively and in business), and we support your biggest, loftiest dreams with everything we have. But can you sort through your dreams for reality? Are you in control of your writing business? Do you know how take a dream and make it real? Or do you get lost in the imagining, planning, and wishing that comes … Read More Having a Hard Time Organizing Your Writing Time?

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+ Author Toolbox, Editing, Self Editing, Story, Writing

Quick Tips to Strengthen the Language of Your Fiction

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Three things to note before we jump in: ONE: there is no ONE SIZE FITS ALL, or no hard and fast ALWAYS rules in strengthening the language of your fiction. TWO: if your characterization is INCREDIBLE, strong language will most likely come very naturally. THREE: you have more leeway if you’re writing in first person and within dialogue for voice reasons. Let’s jump in. … Read More Quick Tips to Strengthen the Language of Your Fiction

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+ Author Life, Author Toolbox, Marketing, Pep Talk, Productivity, Sales, Self, Support, Work With us

7 Reasons You May Need a Publishing Consultation Call

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Are you feeling stuck in one or more aspects of your author career? Has the business side of the writing life got you down? A Publishing Consultation Call can help you get focused, and get moving again.  Here are 7 reasons why some one on one time might be exactly what you need to get back on track. 1. You’re sometimes paralyzed about which … Read More 7 Reasons You May Need a Publishing Consultation Call

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+ Author Life, Author Toolbox, diversity, Editing, featured, LGBT, Marketing, representation in literature, Self, Story, Support

Introduction to Writing LGBT+ Characters

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2021 has seen more books featuring LGBT characters hit the bestselling lists than any year prior. These books have come in all genres: memoirs, YA novels, erotica, thrillers, you name it. With this explosion in LGBT-centered stories, many authors have a desire to include an LGBT character in their stories, whether as a main character or a side character. However, this can sometimes be … Read More Introduction to Writing LGBT+ Characters

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+ Author Toolbox, Editing, featured, plotting, Self, Story, Support, Writing

DIY Workbook: 5 Point Story Mapping

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The 5 Point Story Mapping Method isn’t a plotting device. It’s not a new series of beats or a reworking of classic plot tools. The Waypoint Method aims to get deep under the skin of your story so that you understand more than just what happens to your characters. It’s about setting yourself up to succeed, understanding your own motivations as well as your … Read More DIY Workbook: 5 Point Story Mapping

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+ Writing

The Freefall: Letting Go Of Perfectionism During Drafting

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Sending an imperfect (or even *gasp* incomplete) first draft to your editor feels a little bit like getting pushed out of an airplane before you’ve psyched yourself up for the jump.  I know this because I recently turned an incomplete first draft in to MY editor, Allie (in case you haven’t already seen or heard me mention this, Allie and Jo are my editors … Read More The Freefall: Letting Go Of Perfectionism During Drafting

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+ Author Toolbox, representation in literature, Story, Writing

Writing Disabled Characters – 3 Tropes to Avoid

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With the rise of social media and the internet, marginalized groups have been able to create online platforms and share their experiences. With all of this new information cycling the web, and authors wanting to diversify their casts of characters, it can be difficult to make sure that you are representing a character that is a member of a marginalized group in a respectful … Read More Writing Disabled Characters – 3 Tropes to Avoid

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+ Uncategorized

Creative Control in Self-Publishing: What Does it Really Mean?

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   There are many different reasons authors choose to self-publish. One of the most prominent is the idea of creative control. Many self-published authors are invested in retaining a greater amount of control over their published works than a traditional publisher might allow.  But what does creative control really mean, and what does it consist of? While self-publishing is right for many authors, there … Read More Creative Control in Self-Publishing: What Does it Really Mean?

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+ Author Life, Author Toolbox, Editing, Pep Talk, Productivity, Self, Support, Writing

DIY Workbook: Three Author Foundations

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It doesn’t matter if you are just starting your writing journey, you’ve finished one book, or your backlist is filled with titles. It doesn’t matter if you’re Independent or Traditional. Every single person we’ve worked with, or met in the writing world, has one thing in common: Occasionally, we all get stuck. We’re sometimes overwhelmed by the process, or afraid of the criticism/rejection, or … Read More DIY Workbook: Three Author Foundations

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+ Self, Story, Support

5 Author Life Accomplishments Worth Celebrating

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Author life has its ups and downs, like so many things in life. Let’s face it: writing a book can be a long road, especially if you’re just starting out or don’t write fiction full-time. It’s easy to lose focus on our writing goals, so we need milestones and celebrations to keep our focus and our energy on track. Sure, there are major milestones … Read More 5 Author Life Accomplishments Worth Celebrating

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+ Pep Talk, Story, Support, Writing

The Benefits of Talking Through Your Book While in the Drafting Stage

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During the drafting stage of writing your book, it’s highly beneficial to talk through your ideas with someone familiar with your genre. This can be a bookworm friend, editor, or even a coach. As writers, we often find ourselves working in a vacuum, stuck in our own heads. Once we’ve firmly planted ourselves inside our own brains (keep your hands, arms, and legs inside, … Read More The Benefits of Talking Through Your Book While in the Drafting Stage

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